SB 780 – TELEMEDICINE LEGISLATION. Telemedicine legislation passed the PA Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on January 30. Introduced by Senator Elder Vogel (R- Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), the bill which aims to create guidelines for telemedicine delivery and for insurance coverage now moves to the full Senate for consideration. For more information visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us/.

SB 354 – STRENGTHENING LICENSEE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND SUSPENSIONS. Senator Tomlinson (R-Bucks) introduced legislation to strengthen licensee reporting to the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. After successful passage in both the Senate and House chambers, Governor Wolf signed Act 6 into law on February 15, 2018. All licensees, registrants and certificate holders will have the obligation to report any disciplinary conduct by any licensing board or an arrest, indictment or conviction. The law provides each licensing board and commission with authority identical to the Medical boards, which gives the boards the ability to automatically suspend a licensee who has been determined by the board to be an “immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety.” The law takes effect in 60 days. To learn more visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us.

PAMED 2018 ADVOCACY DAY. Want to make your voice heard in Harrisburg on issues that affect your ability to practice in Pennsylvania? If you are a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society plan to join your colleagues at the 2018 Advocacy Day being held on Tuesday, May 22 at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Online registration is available at https://www.pamedsoc.org/detail/event/2018/05/22/default-calendar/advocacy-day.

PHYSICIAN LICENSE RENEWAL. Medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathy (DOs) are required to renew their licenses every even-numbered year. Since 2018 is an even-numbered year, it is time to make sure you have met all criteria, including fulfilling your CME requirements (100 CME hours), before the filing deadline. Physicians are also required to complete 2 approved hours of continuing education on child abuse recognition which do not count toward the mandatory 100 hours unless specifically approved for CME credit. Physicians must also complete at least 2 hours of education in pain management, identification of addiction, or practices of prescribing opioids. Medical doctor renewal deadline is December 31 and the renewal fee is $360. Doctors of osteopathy must renew by October 31 and the fee is $220. Notification from your licensure board will take place 60-90 days prior to the deadline. The renewal notice will be mailed to your last mailing address on record. Renewal forms will not be forwarded so make sure you have notified your board of any change in address. To learn more visit http://www.dos.pa.gov.

SENATE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL 2018 PRIORITIES. Senate Democratic Caucus unveil their 2018 legislative agenda on January 30. The focus will be on jobs, women’s issues, health care, education, social and criminal justice reform, fair taxes, and election protections. To read more about their priorities visit http://www.pasenate.com/.

2018 ELECTION UPDATE. All 203 state House seats and half the state Senate (25 seats – even numbered districts) are on the ballot this year. Republicans currently hold sizeable majorities in both chambers; 34-16 in the state Senate and 120-81 with 2 vacant seats in the state House. As of February 16, 17 Representatives and two Senators are not running for reelection. Six representatives and two Senators are running for a different seat and not running for reelection. Three Representatives are not only running for reelection, but also running for a different seat in 2018. Senator Scott Wagner (R-York) and Montgomery County real estate developer Jeff Bartos won the PA Republican State Committee endorsement for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively, in the May 15 primary. House Speaker Mike Turzai has dropped out of the race for Governor and is focusing on raising funds to maintain the House GOP majority. Paul Mango, former Allegheny County health care executive and Laura Ellsworth, a Pittsburgh attorney, plan to stay in the race for governor. The winner of the May primary will take on Democratic incumbent Governor Tom Wolf in the fall.